Hamstring

[Deborajen]

Ask your PT to explain the symptomology of a lumbar anterior derangement to you (in particular how it effects WOMEN), and have her show you the flexion (bending forward) movements to correct it. Once it's corrected, the ham and piri will stop freaking out. The tingling with extension will also go away.

Also, ask her to teach you to stand properly in a neutral pelvic tilt, with knees unlocked and core engaged.

I'll be sure to ask her about that at my next visit on Wednesday - thank you! At my appointment a few days ago, she did some more massage but worked the lower back a little more, and she also mentioned again that the back is always suspect when the hamstrings act up, especially when there is tingling in the legs and feet. She didn't add any back stretches yet, but she seemed to be a little more suspicious of the back. It'll be interesting to see what she says next time.

[Catrin]

This backing off thing is for the birds.....but I AM doing it. Went to spinning class tonight and agreed with the instructor that all I could do was to just spin easy - he knows me as he said "none of this seeing how much you can do and waiting until there is pain to back off" (he is also my personal trainer).

It was quite hard to do that, but I just sat there and spinned?...spun? for 50 minutes - and stayed in the seat. My trainer isn't shy and he gave me "the eye" once when he thought that I was pushing too hard. Since EVERYTHING gets my hamstring's attention am trying to find some way of exercising - though this barely got my heart rate up to 105...so I probably did it right

Tomorrow after work I have a deep tissue massage scheduled with one of the specialists at the spa that happens to be located in my health club - the entire place is a medically based facility. I am sure it won't be a pleasant experience, but hopefully it will be therapeutic.

Should there not be improvement by Friday morning, I have an appointment scheduled with my doc.

I want to ride my bike this weekend...

[KnottedYet]

If you don't seriously STOP and let the damm thing heal, you won't be riding at all.

[Catrin]

If you don't seriously STOP and let the damm thing heal, you won't be riding at all.

I think that I had to see for myself that even spinning that gently wouldn't help...it did not seem to hurt anything, but I am now stopped. In the past I've always gotten away with just continuing through while something healed. I mean, I was back at work once 6 days after major surgery (that wasn't by choice).

So I have the deep tissue massage scheduled for tonight after work and while I am still meeting with my trainer we won't be doing any lower-body work. I can't even find a sore place with my fingers, though the warmth I get sometimes indicates inflammation. The guy I am seeing tonight is quite good at this - I would prefer to see a woman but this is the best MT they have that has an opening this week.

[Catrin]

Went to a massage therapist this evening and had a good massage that focused on my hamstring. He did not think it a good idea to do a full deep tissue massage, though he did do that along with other things.

Apparently my hamstring (the one with the word bicep in the name) wants to enter a rock and roll band because he said it is tight enough to get a tune from it. Joking aside, he said that my hammie is so tight that it is probably trying to protect an injury such as a microtear or something of that nature.

It feels better already, though it is still quite tight. He gave me some stretches. I will still stay off the bike for a few more days and stretch/ice. There is inflammation, which is what the warmth is from. The sorest place he found is where that particular hamstring attaches at the top, though there is another sore place in the middle of the hammie in the middle of my thigh.

I do feel better about the whole thing as there doesn't appear to be any real damage. Part of the tightness may well be related to the height of my saddle - it isn't high enough - but I am just speculating here.

So stretch, stretch, stretch, and when I get back on the bike this weekend I will take it quite easy. Really.

[tctrek]

Catrin - I really hope your hammie heals quickly and also that you can get your form to where you can put your seat up to proper height... one thing you are missing is the amount of extra power you will have when you are fitted with your knees at the correct angle. Riding with your seat so low may also have an impact on your knees down the road...

Take care and don't give up!

[Catrin]

Catrin - I really hope your hammie heals quickly and also that you can get your form to where you can put your seat up to proper height... one thing you are missing is the amount of extra power you will have when you are fitted with your knees at the correct angle. Riding with your seat so low may also have an impact on your knees down the road...

Take care and don't give up!

It has now been 8 days since I was last on my beloved steel steed, I can see that she is pining for the open road!

The leg is feeling much better, though still icing at the drop of a hat. Tomorrow afternoon I am going to give it a shot and see what it feels like to ride again, it has been a HARD 8 days! No warmth in my hamstring in two days and no pain.

So will take it easy tomorrow, make sure I warm up on the flats, and resist the urge to go find every hill I know to climb and no hammering... I would like to get 20 miles in, at least, but will listen to my body.

My saddle has been raised a few more millimeters, and that will happen every week or two until it is where it needs to be. No more long rides though (>40 miles) until that happens though - there are reasons why my fitter has chosen this approach and, for me, they are good ones.